Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Interpretation of Statutes
Interpretation of Statutes
Gurneet Singh
Statutory interpretation is the process of interpreting and
applying legislation to decide cases.
Interpretation is necessary when case involves ambiguous
aspects of a statute.
Generally, the words of a statute have a plain and
straightforward meaning.
But in some cases, there may be ambiguity or vagueness in
the words of the statute that must be resolved by the
judge.
To find the meanings of statutes, judges use various tools
and methods of statutory interpretation, including
traditional canons of statutory interpretation, legislative
history, and purpose.
Interpretation of something means
ascertaining the meaning or significance of
that thing or ascertaining an explanation of
something that is not immediately obvious.
Construction and Interpretation of a statute
is an age-old process and as old as language.
Interpretation of statute is the process of
ascertaining the true meaning of the words used
in a statute. When the language of the statute is
clear, there is no need for the rules of
interpretation. But, in certain cases, more than
one meaning may be derived from the same
word or sentence. It is therefore necessary to
interpret the statute to find out the real
intention of the statute.
Interpretation of statutes has been an essential
part of English law since Heydon's Case in 1854
and although it can seem complex, the main
rules used in interpretation are easy to learn.
We can say, interpretation of Statutes is required
for two basic reasons viz. to ascertain:
1. Legislative Language - Legislative language may
be complicated for a layman, and hence may
require interpretation; and
2. Legislative Intent - The intention of legislature
or Legislative intent assimilates two aspects:
i. the concept of ‘meaning’, i.e., what the word
means; and
ii. the concept of ‘purpose’ and ‘object’ or the
‘reason’ or ‘spirit’ pervading through the statute.
Necessity of construction would arise only
where the language of a statutory provision
is
ambiguous,
not clear
or where two views are possible
or where the provision gives a different
meaning defeating the object of the statute.
If the language is clear and unambiguous, no
need of construction would arise.
INTERPRETATION CONSTRUCTION
1. Interpretation refers to 1. Construction is described as
understanding the words and drawing conclusions, in
true sense in the provision of relation to the case, that lie
the Statute. beyond the outright
expression of the legal text.
…If the words of the Statute are clear and unambiguous, it is the
plainest duty of the Court to give effect to the natural meaning of
the words used in the provision. The question of construction arises
only in the event of an ambiguity or the plain meaning of the words
used in the Statute would be self defeating.” (para 18)
Again Supreme Court in Grasim Industries
Ltd. v Collector of Customs, Bombay, (2002)
4 SCC 297 has followed the same principle
and observed:
Where the words are clear and there is no obscurity,
and there is no ambiguity and the intention of the
legislature is clearly conveyed, there is no scope for
court to take upon itself the task of amending or
altering the statutory provisions. (para 10)
The purpose of Interpretation of Statutes
is to help the Judge to ascertain the
intention of the Legislature – not to
control that intention or to confine it
within the limits, which the Judge may
deem reasonable or expedient.
Some Important points to remember in the
context of interpreting Statutes:
i. Statute must be read as a whole in Context
ii. Statute should be Construed so as to make it
Effective and Workable – if statutory provision
is ambiguous and capable of various
constructions, then that construction must be
adopted which will give meaning and effect to
the other provisions of the enactment rather
than that which will give none.
iii. The process of construction combines both the
literal and purposive approaches. The
purposive construction rule highlights that you
should shift from literal construction when it
leads to absurdity.
Unless the statute contains express words to the contrary it is
assumed that the following presumptions of statutory
interpretation apply, each of which may be rebutted by contrary
evidence.
Presumptions represent the accepted judicial view of a range of
circumstances that have been predetermined to be the way in
which every manifestation of those circumstances will be viewed,
until any evidence to the contrary is produced. These tend to
arise from theoretical and practical principles of the law.
i. A statute does not alter the existing common law. If a statute
is capable of two interpretations, one involving alteration of
the common law and the other one not, the latter
interpretation is to be preferred.
ii. If a statute deprives a person of his property, say by
nationalization, he is to be compensated for its value.
iii. A statute is not intended to deprive a person of his liberty. If it
does so, clear words must be used. This is relevant in
legislation covering, for example, mental health and
immigration.
iv. A statute does not have retrospective effect to a date earlier
than its becoming law.
v. A statute generally has effect only in the
country enacted.
However a statute does not run counter to
international law
and
should be interpreted so as to give effect to
international obligations.
vi. A statute cannot impose criminal liability
without proof of guilty intention. Many modern
statutes rebut this presumption by imposing
strict liability; for e.g. -dangerous driving.